Allan Barber

About

Now in his semi-retirement at Point Wells near Warkworth, Allan is a freelance agricultural journalist writing mainly about the meat industry which has remained his key area of interest since leaving AFFCO in 1997.

Member for

12 years 2 months

Latest articles

Meat companies must be clear about their purpose

Allan Barber says the purpose of our meat industry is to use its resources and capabilities to produce to red meat to world class standards for customers who want that

7th Mar 18, 10:03am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says the purpose of our meat industry is to use its resources and capabilities to produce to red meat to world class standards for customers who want that

How much meat do we actually eat?

Dodgy OECD data timing distorts local meat consumption figures says Allan Barber resulting in superficial judgments. But he remains confident grass fed beef and lamb will continue to satisfy the tastes of consumers

22nd Feb 18, 8:41am

by Allan Barber

Enjoyment and stress of holding an A&P Show

Allan Barber sees increasingly urban crowds turning up for traditional A&P Shows like the Warkworth one, and a unique opportunity to balance out urban prejudices with rural realities and sensible perspectives. And it works

16th Feb 18, 4:26pm

by Allan Barber

Changing export markets give confidence in industry’s future

Allan Barber watches quota entitlements as a gauge of shifting meat company fortunes and market share. Rationalisation has brought a stronger meat industry even for farmers

1st Feb 18, 4:14pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber watches quota entitlements as a gauge of shifting meat company fortunes and market share. Rationalisation has brought a stronger meat industry even for farmers

'My tips for 2018'

Allan Barber sees ongoing trade access challenges, irrigation, and the growth of China as a food customer all among what will be the key issues in 2018

16th Jan 18, 4:38pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber sees ongoing trade access challenges, irrigation, and the growth of China as a food customer all among what will be the key issues in 2018

ANZCO is now 100% Japanese owned

Allan Barber says the investment in the New Zealand red meat sector by Itoham Yonekyu is the 'right kind', linking our products to markets we otherwise wouldn't get access to

19th Dec 17, 8:01pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says the investment in the New Zealand red meat sector by Itoham Yonekyu is the 'right kind', linking our products to markets we otherwise wouldn't get access to

Meat company choice clearer than it’s ever been

Suppliers face offers from fewer, stronger, nimble processors, focused on doing a few things really well, and responding to changes in consumer trends. There are positive options

9th Dec 17, 8:58am

by Allan Barber

Suppliers face offers from fewer, stronger, nimble processors, focused on doing a few things really well, and responding to changes in consumer trends. There are positive options

CPTPP to the rescue

Allan Barber looks at the new opportunities that open up in big multilateral trade agreements now that the US is not part of them. The dynamics have changed

23rd Nov 17, 4:21pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber looks at the new opportunities that open up in big multilateral trade agreements now that the US is not part of them. The dynamics have changed

Essential to keep close watch on alternative products

Allan Barber says there is no immediate threat, but that new options are coming for consumers and both the dairy and red meat sectors need to front-foot the challenge

21st Nov 17, 4:28pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says there is no immediate threat, but that new options are coming for consumers and both the dairy and red meat sectors need to front-foot the challenge

Dismantling MPI not without risks

Allan Barber likes the reasoning behind the proposed shake-up at MPI, but doesn't want to lose the hard-won benefits of the current structure. An 18+ month black hole is the risk

8th Nov 17, 1:12pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber likes the reasoning behind the proposed shake-up at MPI, but doesn't want to lose the hard-won benefits of the current structure. An 18+ month black hole is the risk

Global meat trends look positive

Allan Barber looks at the red meat data and finds whichever way we look at prospects, it would appear to be on an upward trend for the foreseeable future

1st Nov 17, 11:21am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber looks at the red meat data and finds whichever way we look at prospects, it would appear to be on an upward trend for the foreseeable future

Brexit problems proliferate while negotiators procrastinate

Allan Barber sees severe UK meat and dairy issues looming due to Brexit that will hurt New Zealand. He says they should give our new political leaders reasons to be cautious about placing restriction on our ability to trade

28th Oct 17, 8:42am

by Allan Barber

Overseas land ownership not just a New Zealand concern

Allan Barber reviews how Australia treats foreign ownership of rural land, finds it "less paranoid", notes it is British and American owners selling to Chinese buyers, rather than foreigner holdings rising sharply

21st Oct 17, 8:03am

by Allan Barber

Coalition never benefits smaller partner

Allan Barber reviews the current attempts to form a coalition government, its fractured history, and the lessons from abroad, all from a rural point of view

11th Oct 17, 9:49am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews the current attempts to form a coalition government, its fractured history, and the lessons from abroad, all from a rural point of view

Slowly but surely key to China trade

Allan Barber reviews the potential for our meat trade with China. The keys include the integrity of the cold chain, building deep relationships with Chinese counterparts. The prize is a market that takes a third of our proiduction in just a few years

27th Sep 17, 9:06am

by Allan Barber

Calves an important source of profit

Allan Barber reports there is real proof it’s worth breeding good white faced calves for the beef industry, and reducing the number of bobbies to the works

19th Sep 17, 10:13am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reports there is real proof it’s worth breeding good white faced calves for the beef industry, and reducing the number of bobbies to the works

AFFCO’s first chilled shipment unloaded in China

Allan Barber reports that AFFCO is learning that Chinese customers are confused by western sheep meat cuts so is shipping chilled whole carcases, and getting a premium

16th Sep 17, 10:15am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reports that AFFCO is learning that Chinese customers are confused by western sheep meat cuts so is shipping chilled whole carcases, and getting a premium

Time to walk the talk

Allan Barber says that if the meat industry is serious about taking its products up-market, livestock can't be bought through third-party traders if product standards are important

13th Sep 17, 9:54am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says that if the meat industry is serious about taking its products up-market, livestock can't be bought through third-party traders if product standards are important

First chilled shipments to China

Allan Barber reviews the expanding chilled meat trade to China, finding most processors with advanced plans. But Australia already has converted 7% of its trade to chilled

28th Aug 17, 4:55pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews the expanding chilled meat trade to China, finding most processors with advanced plans. But Australia already has converted 7% of its trade to chilled

More cows not the answer

Allan Barber sees debt, environmental restraints, land use regulation, and market forces all moving to make growth in our dairy herd unlikely in the future

16th Aug 17, 9:56am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber sees debt, environmental restraints, land use regulation, and market forces all moving to make growth in our dairy herd unlikely in the future

Plant based burgers fast becoming a reality

Allan Barber foresees a time when red meat will be competing directly with a whole range of other proteins

10th Aug 17, 5:24pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber foresees a time when red meat will be competing directly with a whole range of other proteins

Australia gets closer to objective carcase measurement

Allan Barber remains sceptical of the technology push in Australia to automate carcass grading, a system that may cost them at least A$225m with benefits hard to pin down

26th Jul 17, 3:20pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber remains sceptical of the technology push in Australia to automate carcass grading, a system that may cost them at least A$225m with benefits hard to pin down

Auckland must face reality to host America’s Cup

Allan Barber calls on the Auckland Council to 'grasp the nettle' to ensure the America's Cup is hosted in Auckland with an infrastructure that makes the most of the event and the years after

22nd Jul 17, 10:52am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber calls on the Auckland Council to 'grasp the nettle' to ensure the America's Cup is hosted in Auckland with an infrastructure that makes the most of the event and the years after

Dairy beef profitable for beef and dairy

Allan Barber reports on how LIC has shown sizeable gains in productivity and income from targeted AI that can deliver even at peak dairy cow populations

19th Jul 17, 12:16pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reports on how LIC has shown sizeable gains in productivity and income from targeted AI that can deliver even at peak dairy cow populations

EU - Japan trade deal ups the ante

Allan Barber says the Japan - EU deal makes Japan the key player in reviving the TPP11 deal, which will always be much better than a series of bilateral agreements

13th Jul 17, 8:57am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says the Japan - EU deal makes Japan the key player in reviving the TPP11 deal, which will always be much better than a series of bilateral agreements